Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton

In 1990, Eazy-E began working on the N.W.A. album Niggaz4Life and started planning his second solo album, intended to be called Temporary Insanity.^[2] It would have been the first solo double album in the gangsta rap genre.^[3] Recording for the album began in early 1991.^[4] The album featured a guest appearance by Guns N' Roses;^[5] their track is believed to be titled "Apocalypse" but this has never been confirmed.^[6] Dr. Dre was the main producer for the album but departed from Ruthless Records in early 1992; this changed the production of Temporary Insanity with different producers becoming involved.^[5] Eazy recorded between 30 and 60 songs for the album.^[7] The EP 5150: Home 4 Tha Sick was recorded at the same time and served as the precursor and introduction to the album.^[7][8] During the mastering and mixing process, Bryan Turner, head of Priority Records, received a tape copy of the album and said publicly that it was one of the best albums he had ever heard. The album became less tenable when Dr. Dre released his album The Chronic in December 1992, popularizing the G-funk sound while taking shots at Eazy-E. This caused Eazy-E to decided against releasing Temporary Insanity and the recordings were abandoned.^[9]

Several tracks that eventually appeared on Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton were originally planned for Temporary Insanity and were repurposed.^[10] These include "First Power," "Lickin Suckin Phukkin," "Hit the Hooker," "Sorry Louie," "My Babyz Mama," and "Nutz on Ya Chin."

When Eazy-E died in March 1995, he was working on an album called Str8 Off Tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton vol. 1 & vol. 2 when the recordings were stolen from his car while he was in the hospital. The tapes feature 60-70 songs, and were later discovered in Canada.^[11][12]

Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton, according to Gerrick D. Kennedy in his book Parental Discretion Is Advised: The Rise of N.W.A and the Dawn of Gangsta Rap, "... completed with Yella's assistance. The album was unfinished at the time of Wright's death, and was cobbled together using leftover records and scraps of songs he had yet to complete".^[13][14] It was released posthumously after Wright's 1995 death from AIDS.^[15]

More information Review scores, Source ...

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Entertainment Weekly	B[16]
The Guardian	[17]
Los Angeles Times	[18]
Muzik	[19]
The Source	[20]

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Entertainment Weekly's David Browne viewed it as Eazy-E's "most musically varied and enjoyable album" where "he leaves our consciousness the same way he entered — rough, raunchy, embattled, and utterly unapologetic."^[16]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted "... Eazy-E sounds revitalized, but the music simply isn't imaginative. Instead of pushing forward and creating a distinctive style, it treads over familiar gangsta territory, complete with bottomless bass, whining synthesizers, and meaningless boasts."^[21]

Str8 Off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton debuted and peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album was certified gold on May 20, 1996, selling over 500,000 copies. The album went certified platinum soon after.

• List of number-one R&B albums of 1996 (U.S.)
• 5150: Home 4 Tha Sick
• Eazy-E discography